fanny and the servant problem-第12部分

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THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　But　how　can　she？

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　You　see；　they're　married！

DR。　FREEMANTLE　＇to　change　the　subject＇。　　You'll　take　an　egg？

Newte　has　been　boiling　some。　　He　has　just　served　them。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL　＇rejecting　it＇。　　Thank　you。

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　We're　not　feeling　hungry。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　He　was　so　fond　of　her。

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　She　was　so　pretty。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　And　so　thoughtful。

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　One　would　never　have　known　she　was　an　actress。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　If　only　she　hadn't　…

Bennet　has　entered。　　Newte　is　at　fireplace。　　The　old　ladies　have　their　backs　to　the　door。　　Dr。　Freemantle；　who　is　pouring　out　tea；　is　the　first　to　see　him。　　He　puts　down　the　teapot；　staring。　　The　old　ladies　look　round。　　A　silence。　　Newte　turns。　　Bennet　is　again　the　perfect　butler。　　Yesterday　would　seem　to　have　been　wiped　out　of　his　memory。

BENNET。　　Good　morning；　Miss　Wetherell。　　Good　morning；　Miss　Edith。　＇To　the　two　men＇　　Good　morning。　　I　was　not　aware　that　breakfast　was　required　to　be　any　earlier　than　usual；　or　I　should　have　had　it　ready。

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　We　are　sure　you　would；　Bennet。　　But　you　see；　under　the　circumstances；　wewe　hardly　liked　to　trouble　you。

BENNET　＇he　goes　about　the　room；　putting　things　to　rights。　　He　has　rung　the　bell。　　Some　dead　flowers　he　packs　on　to　Newte's　tray；　the　water　he　pours　into　Newte's　slop…basin＇。　　My　duty；　Miss　Edith；　I　have　never　felt　to　be　a　trouble　to　me。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　We　know；　Bennet。　　You　have　always　been　so　conscientious。　　But；　of　course；　after　what's　happened＇They　are　on　the　verge　of　tears　again。＇

BENNET　＇he　is　piling　up　the　breakfast　things＇。　　Keziah　requested　me　to　apologise　to　you　for　not　having　heard　your　bell　this　morning。　　She　will　be　ready　to　wait　upon　you　in　a　very　few　minutes。　　＇To　the　Doctor＇　　You　will　find　shaving　materials；　doctor；　on　your　dressing…　table。

DR。　FREEMANTLE。　　Oh；　thank　you。

Ernest　has　entered；　with　some　wood；　he　is　going　towards　the　fire。

BENNET　＇to　Ernest＇。　　Leave　the　fire　for　the　present。　　Take　away　this　tray。　　＇Ernest　takes　up　the　tray；　and　goes　out。　　Bennet　speaks　over　the　heads　of　the　Misses　Wetherell　to　Newte＇　　Breakfast　will　be　ready　in　the　morning…room；　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour。

NEWTE　＇at　first　puzzled；　then　indignant；　now　breaks　out＇。　　What's　the　little　game　on　hereeh？　　Yesterday　afternoon　you　were　given　the　sackby　your　mistress；　Lady　Bantock；　with　a　month's　wages　in　lieu　of　noticenot　an　hour　before　you　deserved　it。　　What　do　you　mean；　going　on　like　this；　as　if　nothing　had　happened？　　Is　Lady　Bantock　to　be　ignored　in　this　house　as　if　she　didn't　existor　is　she　not？　　＇He　brings　his　fist　down　on　the　table。　　He　has　been　shouting　rather　than　speaking。＇　　I　want　this　thing　settled！

BENNET。　　Your　bath；　Mr。　Newte；　is　quite　ready。

NEWTE　＇as　soon　as　he　can　recover　speech＇。　　Never　you　mind　my　bath；　I　want　…

Vernon　has　entered。　　He　is　pale；　heavy…eyed；　short　in　his　manner；　listless。

VERNON。　　Good　morningeverybody。　　Can　I　have　some　breakfast；　Bennet？

BENNET。　　In　about　ten　minutes；　I　will　bring　it　up　here。　　＇He　collects　the　kettle　from　the　fire　as　he　passes；　and　goes　out。＇

VERNON。　　Thank　you。　　＇He　responds　mechanically　to　the　kisses　of　his　two　aunts；　who　have　risen　and　come　to　him。＇

NEWTE。　　Can　I　have　a　word　with　you？

VERNON。　　A　little　later　on；　if　you　don't　mind；　Mr。　Newte。　　＇He　passes　him。＇

NEWTE　＇he　is　about　to　speak；　changes　his　mind＇。　　All　right；　go　your　own　way。　　＇Goes　out。＇

DR。　FREEMANTLE。　　〃Remember〃；　says　Marcus　Aurelius　…

VERNON。　　Yesgood　old　sort；　Marcus　Aurelius。　　＇He　drops　listlessly　into　a　chair。＇

Dr。　Freemantle　smiles　resignedly；　looks　at　the　Misses　Wetherell；　shrugs　his　shoulders；　and　goes　out；　closing　the　door　after　him。

The　Misses　Wetherell　whisper　togetherlook　round　cautiously；　steal　up　behind　him；　encouraging　one　another。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　She's　so　young。

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　And　so　adaptable。

VERNON　＇he　is　sitting；　bowed　down；　with　his　face　in　his　hands＇。　　Ah；　it　was　the　deception。

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL　＇she　puts　her　old　thin　hand　on　his　shoulder＇。　　What　would　you　have　done；　dear；　if　she　had　told　youat　first？

VERNON　＇he　takes　her　hand　in　hisanswers　a　little　brokenly＇。　　I　don't　know。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　There's　something　we　wanted　to　tell　you。　＇He　looks　at　her。　　They　look　across　at　each　other。＇　　The　first　Lady　Bantock；　your　great…grandmamma　…

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　She　danced　with　George　III。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　She　was　a　butcher's　daughter。

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　He　was　quite　a　little　butcher。

THE　ELDER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　Of　course；　as　a　rule；　dear；　we　never　mention　it。

THE　YOUNGER　MISS　WETHERELL。　　We　felt　you　ought　to　know。　　＇They　take　each　other's　hands；　on　tip…toe　they　steal　out。　　They　close　the　door　softly　behind　them。＇

Vernon　rises。　　He　looks　at　the　portraitdraws　nearer　to　it。　　With　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　stops　dead　in　front　of　it；　and　contemplates　it　in　silence。　　The　door　of　the　dressing…room　opens。　　Fanny　enters。　She　is　dressed　for　going　out。　　She　stands　for　a　moment；　the　door　in　her　hand。　　Vernon　turns。　　She　closes　the　door　and　comes　forward。

VERNON。　　Good　morning。

FANNY。　　Good　morning。　　George　stayed　the　night；　didn't　he？

VERNON。　　Yes。　　He's　downstairs　now。

FANNY。　　He　won't　be　going　for　a　little　while？

VERNON。　　Can't　till　the　ten　o'clock　train。　　Have　you　had　breakfast？

FANNY。　　II've　had　something　to　eat。　　I'm　sorry　for　what　I　did　last　nightalthough　they　did　deserve　it。　　＇Laughs。＇　　I　suppose　it's　a　matter　than　can　easily　be　put　right　again。

VERNON。　　You　have　no　objection　to　their　staying？

FANNY。　　Why　should　I？

VERNON。　　What　do　you　mean？

FANNY。　　There's　only　one　hope　of　righting　a　mistake。　　And　that　is　going　back　to　the　point　from　where　one　went　wrongand　that　was　our　marriage。

＇A　moment。＇

VERNON。　　We　haven't　given　it　a　very　long　trial。

FANNY　＇with　an　odd　smile＇。　　It　went　to　pieces　at　the　first。　　I　was　in　trouble　all　last　night；　you　must　have　known　it。　　You　left　me　alone。

VERNON。　　Jane　told　me　you　had　locked　yourself　in。

FANNY。　　You　never　tried　the　door　for　yourself；　dear。　　＇She　pretends　to　rearrange　something　on　the　mantelpieceany　excuse　to　turn　away　her　face　for　a　moment。　　She　turns　to　him　again；　smiling。＇　　It　was　a　mistake；　the　whole　thing。　　You　were　partly　to　blame。　　You　were　such　a　nice　boy。　　I　〃fancied〃　youto　use　George's　words。　　＇She　laughs。＇　And　when　a　woman　wants　a　thing；　she　is　apt　to　be　a　bit　unscrupulous　about　how　she　gets　it。　　＇She　moves　about　the　room；　touching　the　flowers；　rearranging　a　cushion；　a　vase。＇　　I　didn't　invent　the　bishop；　that　was　George's　embroidery。　　＇Another　laugh。＇　　But；　of　course；　I　ought　to　have　told　you　everything　myself。　　I　ought　not　to　have　wanted　a　man　to　whom　it　would　have　made　one　atom　of　difference　whether　my　cousins　were　scullery…maids　or　not。　　Somehow；　I　felt　that　to　you　it　might。　　＇Vernon　winces。＇　　It's　natural　enough。　　You　have　a　big　position　to　maintain。　　I　didn't　know　you　were　a　lordthat　was　your　doing。　　George　did　find　it　out；　but　he　never　told　me；　least　of　all；　that　you　were　Lord　Bantockor　you　may　be　pretty　sure　I　should　have　come　out　with　the　truth；　if　only　for　my　own　sake。　　It　hasn't　been　any　joke　for　me；　coming　back　here。

VERNON。　　Yes。　　I　can　see　they've　been　making　things　pretty　hard　for　you。

FANNY。　　Oh；　they　thought　they　were　doing　their　duty。　　＇He　is　seated。　She　comes　up　behind　him；　puts　her　hands　on　his　shoulders。＇　　I　want　you　to　take　them　all　back　again。　　I　want　to　feel　I　have　made　as　little　commotion　in　your　life　as　possible。　　It　was　just　a　little　mistake。　　And　everybody　will　say　how　fortunate　it　was　that　she　took　herself　off　so　soon　with　that＇She　was　about　to　say　〃that　theatrical　Johnny；〃　thinking　of　Newte。　　She　checks　herself。＇　　And　you　will　marry　somebody　belonging　to　your　own　class。　　And　those　are　the　only　sensible　marriages　there　are。

VERNON。　　Have　you　done　talking？

FANNY。　　Yes！　　Yes；　I　think　that's　all。

VERNON。　　Then　perhaps　you'll　let　me　get　in　a　word。　　You　think　me　a　snob？　　＇Fanny　makes　a　movement。＇　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　am。

FANNY。　　No；　that's　not　fair。　　You　wouldn't　have　married　a　girl　off　the　music…hall　stage。

VERNON。　　Niece　of　a　bishop；　cousin　to　a　judge。　　Whether　I　believed　it　or　not；　doesn't　matter。　　The　sham　that　isn't　likely　to　be　found　out　is　as　good　as　the　truth；　to　a　snob。　　If　he　had　told　me　your　uncle　was　a　butler；　I　should　have　hesitated。　　That's　where　the　mistake　began。　We'll　go　back　to　that。　　Won't　you　sit　down？　　＇Fanny　sits。＇　　I　want　you　to　stop。　　There'll　be　no　mistake　this　time。　　I'm　asking　my　butler's　niece　to　do　me　the　honour　to　be　my　wife。

FANNY。　　That's　kind　of　you。

VERNON。　　Oh；　I'm　not　thinking　of　you。　　I'm　thinking　of　myself。　　I　want　you。　　I　fell　in　love　with　you　because　you　were　pretty　and　charming。　　There's　something　else　a　man　wants　in　his　wife　besides　that。　　I've　found　it。　　＇He　jumps　up；　goes　over　to　her；　brushing　aside　things　in　his　way。＇　　I'm　not　claiming　it　as　a　right；　you　can　go　if　you　like。　　You　can　earn　your　own　living；　I　know。　　But　you　shan't　have　anybody　else。　　You'll　be　Lady　Bantock　and　nobody　elseas　long　as　I　live。　　＇He　has　grown　quite　savage。＇

FANNY　＇she　bites　her　lip　to　keep　back　the　smile　that　wants　to　come＇。　That　cuts　both　ways；　you　know。

VERNON。　　I　don't　want　anybody　else。

FANNY　＇she　stretches　out　her　hand　and　lays　it　on　his＇。　　Won't　it　be　too　hard　for　you？　　You'll　have　to　tell　them　allyour　friends　everybody。

VERNON。　　They've　got　to　be　told　in　any　case。　　If　you　are　here；　for　them　to　see；　they'll　be　able　to　understandthose　that　have　got　any　sense。

Bennet　comes　in　with　breakfast；　for　two；　on　a　tray。　　He　places　it　on　a　table。

FANNY　＇she　has　risen；　she　goes　over　to　him＇。　　Good　morning；　uncle。　＇She　puts　up　her　face。　　He　stares；　but　she　persists。　　Bennet　kisses　her。＇　　Lord　Bantock＇she　looks　at　Vernon＇has　a　request　to　make　to　you。　　He　wishes　me　to　remain　here　as　his　wife。　　I　am　willing　to　do　so；　provided　you　give　your　consent。

VERNON。　　Quite　right；　Bennet。　　I　ought　to　have　asked　for　it　before。　I　apologise。　　Will　you　give　your　consent　to　my　marriage　with　your　niece？

FANNY。　　One　min